06.10.2014

17°C / 25°C

Islamabad, Pakistan

I was lucky my last day there was the Eid Mubarak day and could see the celebrations for this muslim festival. Really interesting and very impressive, sacrifying animals at every corner of the town!.
The bike remained in Islamabad at my friend's home. There are some people interested in it...

Overnight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 24C. Winds NW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 40%.

05.10.2014

17°C / 25°C

Islamabad, Pakistan

I had a great time in Islamabad. I used to stay in Rawalpindi at a friend's home. I met him on the KKH near to Passu in the northern ares. He drove me around the city and could see what's life in this place. Mostly visiting friends and drinking tea with them! :))

Overnight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Showers in the morning, then cloudy in the afternoon. High 24C. Winds NW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 40%.

04.10.2014

22°C / 32°C

Islamabad, Pakistan

Well, here I am in Islamabad. End of the journey!
No cycling after Chilas. Because of safety reasons on some stretches (up to Babusar Pass on N15 and from Chilas to Manshera on KKH) police don't allow solo travelers to cycle. I would have preferred cycling the N15 (nice road in a alpine green landscape) rather than KKH. With its heavy traffic, bad road conditions, hot temperatures and strong face wind all day it would have been a massacre. Almost 500 kms ... just meaningless to me. I'm happy I could cycle the nicest areas of the KKH and some others side valleys.
Back home in a few days.

24.09.2014

Strongling, Pakistan

Cycled today: 49 km and 510 elevation metersOvernight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 16C. Winds light and variable.

22.09.2014

12°C / 0°C

Sonikot, Pakistan

Well, the situation now is a little tricky. After Chilas to Mansehra on the KKH is not recommended. After Manshera to Islamabad apparently is ok, just very hot weather. From Chilas I wanted to cycle the N15 over the Babusar pass but I can't get permit because I'm traveling alone. At this point I will go on the way to Skardu and then try to reach the Deosai Plains from there because it is not possible to get there from the Astore road, that would have been less hard. Again police permit needed and given only to guided groups.

04.09.2014

15°C / 29°C

Halajun, China

Karajul 哈拉峻乡 - zona militare... messi su una macchina e spediti a Kashgar! - army border area... put on a car and sent to Kashgar no stop! So, this time wasn't the police but the army. Apparently the area of Karajul is a military zone off limits. Maybe this is why before there we felt like being the first tourists in this area! Anyway they were gentle but strict! After some identification photos and a video (so funny, too bad we couldn't get a copy!!!) they got a car for us and sent to Kashgar. At least it was faster and easier than what planned! But luckly we could cycle the nicest part of this S306 road.

01.09.2014

13°C / 24°C

Aheqi, China

Wushi to Akchi - altro passaggio dalla polizia...
gentilezza o sorveglianza? - another lift by the police... kindness or
surveillance?.
It looks like no one tourist never passed by this valley and this road
(S306)... everybody is looking at us like we were aliens! Police and army guys
have no idea what to do when we get to the check points and the villages, but
they let us go through and following us for kms when not giving us a lift
straight to the hotel where we MUST stay! It's a mix of funny and really
serious situation.

20.08.2014

14°C / 19°C

Takeshiken, China

Takeshkent - China!!!

Cycled today: 67 kmOvernight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Sunny in the morning then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms later in the day. High 26C. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 km/h. Chance of rain 50%.

10.08.2014

Tolbo, Mongolia

Cycled today: 78 km and 550 elevation metersOvernight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Sunny early followed by increasing clouds and a few showers later in the day. High 21C. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.

05.08.2014

Kosh-Agach, Russia

Cycled today: 70 km and 480 elevation metersOvernight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Some clouds early with showers likely in the afternoon, and a thunderstorm is possible. High 18C. Winds W at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 70%.

28.07.2014

Gorno-Altaysk, Russia

Cycled today: 103 km and 150 elevation metersOvernight stay: Hotel etc.Weather forecast: Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will give way to periods of rain and possibly a thunderstorm in the afternoon. High around 20C. Winds SSW at 15 to 30 km/h. Chance of rain 90%.